Permitted Development Rights removed for farm at Soberton

Permitted Development Rights removed for farm at Soberton

July 8, 2014

The South Downs National Park Authority has removed planning rights for a field at Bere Farm in Soberton following concerns that the owner was preparing to subdivide the area with fences.

At their meeting on 12 June 2014 the SDNPA’s Planning Committee issued the first article 4 direction since the National Park Authority took over as Local Planning Authority in April 2011.

The 20 hectare field has been recognised for its contribution to local views by the Soberton and Newtown Village Design Statement. The article 4 direction removes permitted development rights for fences, gates and other means of enclosure to help protect this panorama. It does not prohibit their erection but means that planning permission would need to be sought for them.

The Government advises that local authorities should consider making article 4 directions only in exceptional circumstances where the exercise of permitted development rights would harm local amenity, the historic environment or the proper planning of the area.

Tim Slaney, Director of Planning for the South Downs National Park Authority, said:

“The land in question, formerly an arable field, has recently been levelled, planted with grass and a new gated access created – this is quite legal but in light of the special nature of this particular landscape that local people have identified as being of importance we are concerned that no further work is carried out without planning consent.

“An article 4 direction is not something we do lightly but this is an exceptional case and the Planning Committee felt that it was necessary as part of our duty to care for the National Park’s special landscapes.”

Planning applications for access to the field have already been submitted and are pending consideration.